Calgary HeraldTrampolines have flown through the air, roofs have blown off, and hail has hammered buildings during violent storms around Calgary this summer, but reports of loose construction material sent sailing by sudden wind gusts have been declining.
City staff and workers in the construction industry are crediting a specialized wind warning system with providing contractors enough lead time to secure materials before strong winds hit.READ MORE

CBC NewsTwo students at the University of Waterloo have achieved what they say is a first in this country: Their self-driving golf cart successfully manoeuvered its way down a Canadian road.
Michael Skupien and Alex Rodrigues are the brains behind Varden Labs, a company launched in earlier this year with the goal of developing an autonomous vehicle. They achieved that goal recently, when their golf cart took less than 10 minutes to drive itself around Ring Road in Waterloo, a trip which involved stopping for stop signs and pedestrian crossings. READ MORE

Global NewsA "clown gun" might sound like a toy pistol with a BANG! flag sticking out, but it's actually an innovative new piece of weapons technology getting a look from the Toronto police.
The Police Services board is reacting to a coroner's recommendation that the force "continue to explore new technologies in the area of less lethal use of force options" after the fatal shooting of Donald Thompson, who threatened officers with a machete in 2013.READ MORE

The Vancouver SunGoogle is making a Wi-Fi router as part of its ambition to provide better Internet connections that make it easier for people to access its digital services and see more of its online advertising.
Pre-orders for the wireless router, called OnHub, can be made beginning at Google's online store, Amazon.com and Walmart.com.READ MORE

CBC NewsThe idea of a space elevator that lifts people and cargo from Earth into the big, black beyond has been a dream of mankind for more than a century.
News that Thoth Technology, a Canadian firm, recently patented a 20-kilometre space tower has reignited interest in what has long been considered a far-fetched concept. Aeronautics experts say that while Thoth's concept is intriguing, it's a small step rather than a giant leap towards the goal of travelling into space using something other than a conventional rocket.READ MORE

Evening StandardAs a campaign to raise minimum wages for fast-food chain workers gathers pace in the U.S., so too are efforts to create robots and other machines to replace humans behind their grills.
Restaurant employees across the U.S. have been demanding a higher minimum wage and several states including New York are planning to introduce pay of $15 an hour in the coming years.READ MORE

Phys.orgHighly efficient, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) could slash the world's electricity consumption. They are already sold in stores, but more widespread adoption of the technology has been hindered by high costs due to limited availability of raw materials and difficulties in achieving acceptable light quality. But researchers will report that they have overcome these obstacles and have developed a less expensive, more sustainable white LED.READ MORE

Medical News Today Wearable health trackers and smartphone apps have taken the world by storm in recent years. Around 20 per cent of smartphone users have one or more health apps on their device, and a 2014 report by Nielsen found one in six of us use wearable technology — such as fitness trackers — on a daily basis.
According to the authors of the American Heart Association statement, the most popular self-monitoring devices and apps are those that track physical activity or heart rate. But do such technologies have a direct impact on heart health? READ MORE

CNET Meet the Minority Report of dog collars. The Buddy by Squeaker on Kickstarter is a futuristic combination of a necessary dog accessory with every imaginable piece of tech thrown into the mix.
The Buddy has safety features. It glows at night with LED lights and can track your best buddy by GPS in case he escapes from the yard. It monitors the temperature around your pooch and notifies you if it goes into the danger zone.READ MORE